Spitfire Guards. Review!

[discreet]

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1407671746' post='2522759']
This whole thing is not about Spitfire guards, it's about the business practices of the man behind it.
[/quote]

Yes I know, and I agree with you. Sorry mate, I didn't mean to poke a stick in the hornet's nest. Well not much, anyway.

[cameltoe]

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1407650522' post='2522546']
I know it's not what you ordered so it's a moot point, but in the lower-contrast shots on the OSG thread it looks like a pretty cool guard. Someone will be happy with it.
[/quote]

I'm sorry but I have to disagree. I think the images of the example tort that the OP ordered look really cool- vintage and a nice match for a P.

The Tort he ended up getting (or not, in the end) look like one of those black and flame shirts you can buy down the market for £5.

Edited August 10, 2014 by cameltoe

[cameltoe]

[discreet]

[quote name='Bassman Steve' timestamp='1407673042' post='2522780']
Careful, if you'd said Jehovah we'd have to have you stoned.
[/quote]

Way ahead of you. La-la-la...

[discreet]

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1407676331' post='2522849']

[/quote]

I thought we had a deal?? You wouldn't ever post that pic of me wearing 'the shirt', and I would flog your splod on Fridays??
That's it, mate - no more splod-flogging for you! *Goes off in a huff - realises mistake, comes back, goes off in a taxi*

[chrismuzz]

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1407676212' post='2522845']
The Tort he ended up getting (or not, in the end) look like one of those black and flame shirts you can buy down the market for £5.
[/quote]

Hahahaha A bit mean but I do see the resemblance!

[cameltoe]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1407676541' post='2522854']
I thought we had a deal?? You wouldn't ever post that pic of me wearing 'the shirt', and I would flog your splod on Fridays??
That's it, mate - no more splod-flogging for you! *Goes off in a huff - realises mistake, comes back, goes off in a taxi*
[/quote]

"Jane! Jane! Jaaaaaayyyne!!!!"

"WHAT??!"

"My SHIRT! You need to iron my FLAME shirt!! The boys will be here to go to the pub in a minute!"

"Can't you just wear your Dragon shirt tonight?"

"NO! That's long sleeved!! Makes my arms look small! I need my flame one!!!"

[chrismuzz]

Flame shirts are old hat anyways... These days all the cool kids are wearing jackets emblazoned with flaming skeletons playing three guitars at once while riding a dragon made of steel through the moonlit night

... Man that would make one shocker of a pickguard!!

Edited August 10, 2014 by chrismuzz

[skankdelvar]

Whether the guard in question is a 'nice' guard or not is kinda immaterial to the specific issue. If one chooses an item from a picture posted by a seller then the finished product should at least come close. This guard doesn't.

As for Spitfire's business practices, the general sense I get from posts around the different threads is 'His T&C's are clear upfront - but 35% is well on the steep side'.

I suppose what it comes down to is the balance between a maker's desire to protect his own sense of 'creativity' and the need to compromise with the buyer's wishes. Some makers err one way (the Michelangelo syndrome) and others are more pragmatic, though rarely have I seen such reinforcement of self-esteem as in Mr Spitfire's various broadcasts.

He might learn something from a friend of mine who paints animal portraits. Our furry friends being disinclined to remain motionless during a sitting, my friend perforce works from photographs supplied by her clients. Having recently completed a dog work she drove 150 miles to deliver it to the client (at no extra charge).

The client removed the painting from its wrapping and drew a sharp breath. 'Oh! The colour of Ticky-Boo's coat is all wrong' she wailed.

'But it's the same as the photos you sent me' replied my friend the artist.

'Yes, but those are photos of Ticky-Boo when he was [i]younger[/i]. As he's aged his coat's got darker. Can you change the portrait to match? I don't really want to pay for it otherwise...'

'Of course' sighed my friend, making the best of the situation because the customer is always right, even when they're a complete f**king PITA. That's just how it is.

In the matter of Billy's Spitfire Pickguard* this simple truth has been lost in a mist of self-approbation, clammy sentiment and doubtful business sense.


[size=3]*Coming Soon in Viz: 'Billy's Spitfire Pickguard' - During the dark days of WW2 little Billy Apple's pickguard turns into a Spitfire whenever Heinkels fly over Fulchester.[/size]

[size=3].[/size]

Edited August 10, 2014 by skankdelvar

[wateroftyne]

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1407676212' post='2522845']
I'm sorry but I have to disagree. I think the images of the example tort that the OP ordered look really cool- vintage and a nice match for a P.

The Tort he ended up getting (or not, in the end) look like one of those black and flame shirts you can buy down the market for £5.
[/quote]

I dunno... in these pictures it looks like a tort with a lot of yellow in it. Why he can't just take it outside and just get a naturally-coloured shot of it is a mystery.

[Beer of the Bass]

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1407681800' post='2522927']
Whether the guard in question is a 'nice' guard or not is kinda immaterial to the specific issue. If one chooses an item from a picture posted by a seller then the finished product should at least come close. This guard doesn't.

As for Spitfire's business practices, the general sense I get from posts around the different threads is 'His T&C's are clear upfront - but 35% is well on the steep side'.

I suppose what it comes down to is the balance between a maker's desire to protect his own sense of 'creativity' and the need to compromise with the buyer's wishes. Some makers err one way (the Michelangelo syndrome) and others are more pragmatic, though rarely have I seen such reinforcement of self-esteem as in Mr Spitfire's various broadcasts.
[/quote]

I think the 150 page thread of mutual congratulation over on offset guitars is one of the desired outcomes of Mr Spitfire's activities just as much as the actual pickguards are. You're not just buying a pickguard, you're buying into a club where you can sit around praising one another's exquisite taste and discernment and Spitfire's artistry in a kind of reciprocal ego massage. I think that might be what he was getting at in his comments about becoming the customers friend, but if you just want to purchase a good looking pickguard and call it done I suspect you don't have very high priority in his world. This would explain the lack of traditional customer service values.

Edited August 10, 2014 by Beer of the Bass

[Dad3353]

How goes the saying..? With 'friends' like that... ..?

[skankdelvar]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1407686503' post='2523004']
How goes the saying..? With 'friends' like that... ..?
[/quote]

With friends like that, a stitch in time keeps the Doctor away*.

In any case, this Spitfire chap is dead to me. [i]Dead to me[/i], d'ye hear?


[size=3]*Gratuitous Whovian spam bought and paid for by the BBC[/size]

[Roland Rock]

That OSG thread is a proper backslapping exercise, a tort love-in, a Spitroast.

[Thunderbird]

I bet the Spitfire geezer is loving this

[discreet]

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1407695929' post='2523121']
That OSG thread is a proper backslapping exercise, a tort love-in, a Spitroast.
[/quote]

Heh. It's not ALL one way traffic, though - there are two or three dissenters.

[skankdelvar]

To be fair, the OSG Spitroast (nice one, Roland) while 150 pages in length has presumably been going a while longer than similar threads on certain other forums we might mention. There but for the grace of God go we.

OSG is quite a jolly place. I lurk there sometimes for Electric XII porn.


[size=3][b]Electric XII[/b]: Rockin' that smurf hat[/size]

Edited August 10, 2014 by skankdelvar

[cameltoe]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1407698307' post='2523156']
Heh. It's not ALL one way traffic, though - there are two or three dissenters.
[/quote]

And don't those dissenters just cut through a sea of nonsense with their logical take on the argument? It's a shame most of the OSG posters didn't pick up on that.

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1407681800' post='2522927']
Whether the guard in question is a 'nice' guard or not is kinda immaterial to the specific issue. If one chooses an item from a picture posted by a seller then the finished product should at least come close. This guard doesn't.
[/quote]

I think most on BC realise that- it was the posters over at OSG who apparently didn't. My personal feeling is it's nothing like he ordered (in terms of representation on the Spitfire website) AND it's a disgusting guard. But then, I dig surf green, so i'm not exactly a beacon of fine taste.

Edited August 10, 2014 by cameltoe

[skankdelvar]

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1407704843' post='2523248']
I think most on BC realise that- it was the posters over at OSG who apparently didn't. My personal feeling is it's nothing like he ordered (in terms of representation on the Spitfire website) AND it's a disgusting guard. But then, I dig surf green, so i'm not exactly a beacon of fine taste.
[/quote]

I agree in every respect, including liking surf green which is an indication of [i]very[/i] good taste afaic.
[color=#ffffff].[/color]

Edited August 10, 2014 by skankdelvar

[Billy Apple]

I appealed the Paypal's decision and this is the reply I've received. It makes interesting reading and certainly puts a different spin on ordering anything custom made through Paypal..

Unfortunately, we are unable to take any action on this claim because it is not covered under PayPal Purchase Protection. Customized items are not eligible for coverage under our policies. To learn more about PayPal Purchase Protection, simply click “Legal Agreements at the bottom of any PayPal page and then click “PayPal User Agreement.”

So don't be using Paypal for anything made for you

[karlfer]

Sorry this has happened Sean, to me if a customer has a problem, it always needs sorting so they are happy.
It may be a "loss leader" at the time, but sometimes it can come back and reward businesses very well in the long term.
I have heard so many times of our American friends being tremendous with customer service, and indeed, that has been my experience with anything I have bought from the States.
Sadly, in further cliche mode, exception proves the rule.
Thank you for giving us food for thought.


[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1407708486' post='2523305']
I agree in every respect, including liking surf green which is an indication of [i]very[/i] good taste afaic.
[color=#ffffff].[/color]
[/quote]

[Beer of the Bass]

You do know he's reading the thread right now, don't you?

[Billy Apple]

[quote name='Meddle' timestamp='1407961406' post='2525862']
Here I disagree. I know religion is a tricky area, but Spitfire flaunts his believe and, I think in America in particular, you can probably get a good number of sales just by being a good old card-carrying christian. Mont Allums does it (and has no qualms charging a LOT of money for a couple of resistors, capacitors and an OpAmp or two). Many other small vendors have no problem putting their beliefs on their webpages. Are they doing it because they love the lord almighty or because they want to appear clean cut and trustworthy and to drum up a few extra sales? You be the judge!
[/quote]

There are aspects of the Spitfire website that I find not without irony. However I do want to keep this thread well and truly within forum rules, so I would appreciate if the more spiritual aspects of Spitfire Inc. operations were not discussed here.

Edited August 15, 2014 by Billy Apple